My grandmother kept her tree up until Epiphany. Now people can’t wait twelve hours.
Pour me a glass, because what I saw this afternoon from my kitchen window requires fortification. The Hendersons—three houses down, you know the ones—were outside at 2 PM on Christmas Day itself, taking their Christmas decorations down from the roof. Christmas. Day.
The wrapping paper wasn’t even in the recycling bin yet.
Christmas Decorations Down Before Dinner
My grandmother, God rest her, kept her tree up until January 6th. The Feast of the Epiphany. Twelve days of Christmas, she’d say, because that’s what the song says, and songs meant something back then. Just like Christmas cards meant something.
Now? Now I’m watching a grown man in cargo shorts—cargo shorts! in December!—wrestle an inflatable snowman into submission while his children are presumably inside, ignoring their new gifts in favor of screens.
What’s The Rush?
Furthermore, I have to ask: where are they going? What’s so pressing on December 25th that the Christmas decorations down project can’t wait until, I don’t know, December 26th? Is there a sale on ladders? A deadline I’m unaware of?
My ex-husband used to say I “made everything into a bigger deal than it needed to be.” Well, Kevin, maybe some things deserve to be a big deal. Maybe rushing through traditions is why your second wife looks tired at school pickup.
The Death Of Lingering
We’ve lost the art of savoring. Consequently, Christmas has become a checkbox. Buy gifts. Check. Wrap gifts. Check. Exchange gifts. Check. Remove all evidence. Check. Move on to the next thing.
My tree is staying up. My lights are staying on. Additionally, I will be drinking this wine by the glow of my tastefully decorated Douglas fir until at least New Year’s, because some of us still understand that the season isn’t a sprint.
McKayleigh just texted asking why I’m “staring out the window again.” Because, sweetheart, your mother remembers when people let joy linger. That’s why.
The Hendersons’ house looks cold now. Empty. Whatever they’re rushing toward, I hope it’s worth it.
I’m pouring another glass of wine. Someone has to keep the spirit alive.
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